RB wrote:orig press on FOX (MM 7701 A/B) is the one to get. plays real heavy

I've spent some time comparing this Micron Music matrix/Fox label press with the Island mix and strangely enough they seem to be the same except perhaps in bass levels. There are no tracks that play slower than the Island mix which I've listened to many times and everything besides the bass is the same. Perhaps I'm missing something?

For reference, this is what the JA MM7701 press I have looks like:

I'm thinking the Fox press with matrix MIC-BS-2574-A is the only JA press with the original mix. Maybe someone could explain the exact differences between the JA and Island mixes in case I'm not noticing something?

The JA issue on Wolf has a slightly different mix from the UK Island. It does not have the stereo effect (especially on the horns) the piano is more upfront and the Island mix might be pitched up a little bit.

rastapopoulos wrote:The JA issue on Wolf has a slightly different mix from the UK Island. It does not have the stereo effect (especially on the horns) the piano is more upfront and the Island mix might be pitched up a little bit.

Right on, thanks. That clears things up a bit for me. I can now positively say the MIC-BS-2574-A press from JA is the same as the Island mix except it's lacking track B-10 "Resting Place". For anyone seeking the original JA mix you'll want to find a copy either on Fox with matrices TS-7969-A / TS-7969-B or a copy on Wolf with matrices TS-7969-A / B Burning Spear (info taken from discogs). A bit strange that the stampers for the B-sides differ for these initial JA issues:

To be precise, the copy i have on Wolf (with the green & brown letters) doesn't have the TS matrix, the A-side has # BURNING SPEAR A, the B-side has # BURNING SPEAR B, written upside down and in mirror writing.

If there was a difference, I'd have had to run the tracks back to back to check it - but I can't hear it, so don't really care. Maybe it's one of those myths that has just gained so much credence by being repeated so often.

Thanks Marmalade. That is indeed the original JA mix. Although having now listened to a full rip of the JA mix, I wouldn't say those particular tracks differ greatly from the Island versions. The tracks that strike me as most different, based on one quick listen to the JA mix, were "Give Me" and "Invasion". The flute in "Give Me" is much louder in the mix and it benefits the song greatly. "Invasion" has a much eerier vibe to it, especially the intro. Again, a definite improvement on the Island mix.